Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers Dead at 74

Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers has died. The music icon passed away Friday (Jan. 3) in Burbank, Calif. He was 74.

Everly passed of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as confirmed by his widow, Patti. His lifelong smoking habit is said to have been the cause of his illness.

Patti states that the family is “absolutely heartbroken” over the loss and that her husband did not go gently, fighting “long and hard” through his condition. He is survived by his older brother and former bandmate Don, now 76, two sons and two granddaughters.

The Everly Brothers rose to prominence in the 1950s as country-influenced rock and rollers. Their most recognizable hits include ‘Bye Bye Love’ and ‘Wake Up Little Susie.’ In total, the duo notched four No. 1s on the Hot Country Songs chart.

The group was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame back in 2001, which followed a 1986 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, proving their ability to straddle the line between multiple genres with their music.

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